<HTML>In a message dated 5/31/2003 7:45:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, mpollak@panix.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">[A credibility crisis is like an avalanche.  It is impossible to say what pebble will set it off.  But once it goes, it'll be impossible to get back.  And every lie that doesn't set it off is just more weight piling up.  We shouldn't worry so much about how they get away with it.  We should be thinking about how to best to capitalize when it collapses. Because in their hubristic self-intoxication, they are convinced that in lies they've discovered the philosopher's stone of politics.  So they're just going to keep on piling up the weight.] </BLOCKQUOTE> Quoted many times here, but appropriate <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> </BLOCKQUOTE><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger." </BLOCKQUOTE> -- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> </BLOCKQUOTE> Point being that the media is not going to challenge the Repugs and risk being labeled disloyal. Sergio </HTML>